In Guinea, genomic surveillance has been established to generate sequences of and to identify locally circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study aims to describe the distributions, genetic diversity, and origins of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Guinea during the COVID-19 pandemic. A migration analysis was performed by selecting all sequences generated in Guinea for variants of concern and interest. From March 2020 to December 2023, 1038 sequences were generated in Guinea and submitted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database. Of these, 73.1% corresponded to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, which were further grouped into Omicron (69.4%), Delta (21.9%), Alpha (6.6%), and Eta (2.1%). Other variants accounted for 26.9% of the total. Among the total variants analyzed, 75 importations into Guinea from various countries worldwide were identified. Most of the importations (40%) originated from African countries, followed in significance by those from European countries (25.3%) and Asia (18.6%). A significant migratory flow was observed within Guinea. The genomic surveillance reported in this study revealed the diversity of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Guinea, emphasizing the importance of large-scale sequencing analyses in understanding the dynamics of the pandemic.

Background: This study presented the key characteristics of patients who tested positive for diphtheria during the outbreak in the Republic of Guinea in 2023 and assessed the influence of some risk factors on disease development. Methods: The clinical diagnosis of diphtheria was confirmed by detecting diphtheria toxin genes in nasopharyngeal samples collected from suspected patients via 2 reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction tests. Bivariate analyses with the χ2 test and the Fisher's exact test were conducted to explore possible associations between diphtheria positivity and various sociodemographic, clinical, and exposure factors. Results: In total, 444 samples obtained from suspected cases were analyzed. In 90 (20.3%) cases, the condition was confirmed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, with an overall fatality rate of 8.9% (n = 8). On average, deaths occurred 2 days after admission, with 6 (75.0%) of 8 (6 girls and 2 boys) deaths recorded within the first 3 months after the epidemic onset. The clinical characteristics included sore throat (91%), fever (90%), whitish throat membrane (83%), throat redness (81%), and dyspnea (28%). The risk factors were age <15 years, no prior vaccination, and contact with a patient with diphtheria. A whitish throat membrane and dyspnea were significantly associated with diphtheria positivity. Conclusions: This study emphasized that diphtheria remains a major and potentially fatal disease, despite vaccination and early symptom recognition. The identification of characteristic signs—particularly a whitish throat membrane and dyspnea—is important for reducing disease severity and mortality.

Synthetic dyes, such as methylene blue (MB), constitute a major category of environmental pollutants due to their toxicity, persistence, and resistance to standard treatment methods. In this study, Bacillus cereus BC WW Saida was isolated from the heavily polluted Saida dumpsite in Lebanon and evaluated for its MB degradation efficiency. The isolate was identified through whole-genome sequencing, which revealed the presence of key enzymatic systems involved in azo dye degradation. Under optimized conditions, the strain achieved 82% decolorization, as determined by optical density measurements using a microplate reader. The process was further examined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), which revealed a significant reduction in the original dye peak and the emergence of new intermediate products. These findings suggest the strong biodegradation capability of B. cereus BC WW Saida isolated from contaminated environments and highlight its potential application in the eco-friendly treatment of azo dye-contaminated wastewater.

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics is a major driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding antibiotic use and patterns in hospital settings is essential for promoting rational use and optimizing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). This study aims to assess the extent of antibiotic prescribing in secondary and tertiary hospitals in Conakry, Guinea, and to evaluate the appropriateness of these prescriptions on the basis of WHO recommendations via the Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to October 2024 to assess patient antibiotic use levels across six hospital wards in Conakry, capital of Guinea. The prevalence of antibiotic prescriptions, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), was compared across patient, prescriber and ward variables. Antibiotic use was categorized by Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical and AWaRe classifications. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse factors associated with antibiotic prescription. Results: Of 1482 patients surveyed, the overall prevalence of antibiotic prescriptions was 35.0% (95% CI: 32.6–37.5), with significant differences between inpatients (83.4%, 95% CI: 78.1–87.6) and outpatients (25.1%, 95% CI: 22.7–27.6). The total number of antibiotics prescribed was 669, and the most commonly prescribed antibiotics were beta-lactams/beta-lactamase inhibitors (24.2%), followed by third-generation cephalosporins (21.7%), imidazoles (18.5%), and penicillins (13.6%). Almost all antibiotic courses (99.4%) were started empirically, without microbiological testing to guide choice. Regarding the AWaRe classification of all prescribed antibiotics, Access antibiotics accounted for 64.3% (430/669), and 33.3% (223/669) were from the Watch group. Conclusions: The results of this study, conducted in six hospital departments, provide an overview of antibiotic prescriptions in Conakry hospitals, with a high prevalence of antibiotic prescription, particularly among inpatients and almost all courses were initiated empirically without microbiological guidance. These findings underscore the urgent need for AMS programs and interventions.

In Guinea, genomic surveillance has been established to generate sequences and identify locally circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study aims to describe the distribution, genetic diversity, evolution, and origin of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Guinea during the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a migration analysis by selecting all sequences generated in Guinea for variants of concern and interest. From March 2020 to December 2023, a total of 1 038 sequences were generated in Guinea and submitted to the GISAID database. Of the total, 73.1% corresponded to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including (omicron 69, 4%, delta 21,9%, alpha 6,6%, and eta 2,1%). Other variants, accounting for 26,9%. Of the total number of variants analyzed, 75 importations into Guinea from various countries around the world were identified. The majority of introductions (40%) were from African countries, followed by 25,3% from European countries, and Asia (18,6%). A significant migratory flow has been observed within Guinea. Genomic surveillance has revealed the diversity of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Guinea, highlighting the importance of sequence generation for advanced analysis to understand the dynamics of the pandemic.

Unexplained febrile syndromes represent a major diagnostic and public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although malaria remains an important cause of fever, an increasing proportion of febrile episodes is attributable to nonmalarial etiologies, encompassing a wide range of bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal infections, as well as noninfectious causes. Their etiological characterization remains limited by the low specificity of clinical manifestations, the heterogeneity of definitions and diagnostic algorithms, and insufficient laboratory capacity. Microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, cultures, and serology remain essential in resource-limited settings, but their targeted nature and variable performance may lead to diagnostic dead ends. Emerging approaches, particularly multiplex PCR, next-generation sequencing, and clinical metagenomics, offer new opportunities to broaden the diagnostic spectrum, identify neglected or emerging pathogens, and strengthen surveillance. However, their integration requires strengthening laboratory networks, quality systems, and human resources, as well as evaluating their relevance and cost-effectiveness. An integrated approach based on the “One Health” concept appears essential to improve the diagnosis and surveillance of febrile illnesses in Sub-Saharan Africa.